Conversion to New Property Tax Information System

 

Over the July 4 holiday weekend, the County will be converting to a new state-of-the-art property tax information system. The County has been working with a computer systems vendor to customize the North Carolina Property Tax System (NCPTS) first developed by Wake County in 1999. This effort will integrate the tax collection and property assessment functions and will impact both the Tax Collector’s Office and the Property Assessment and Land Records Management division of LUESA. The Mecklenburg County customization will become version 4.0 of the NCPTS. The new system is expected to result in a 30% efficiency improvement by eliminating duplicate processes.

 

To give the staff and our vendor sufficient time to install and test the system prior to going live, both offices will be closed on Thursday July 3 and will re-open on Monday, July 7. During this four-day period, there will be no access to tax records. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg 311 customer service representatives will not be able to assist callers with tax questions and the online tax applications will also be unavailable.

 

For more information, please contact Neal Dixon at (704) 336-3322.

 

County Acquires Cavalier Apartments

 

After years of planning and negotiating, the flood-prone Cavalier Apartments are now owned by Mecklenburg County. Last week, County staff consummated the closing and the deed has been recorded.

 

Over the next six to nine months, County Storm Water staff will operate the complex, while relocating approximately 180 tenants. Thereafter, the 13 buildings will be demolished to create 13 acres of open space in the Briar Creek floodplain. County Storm Water Services will lead a multi-agency effort to “redevelop” the site into a public use that is compatible with floodplain and open space uses such as flood storage, water quality enhancements, as well as park and greenway amenities.

 

Staff will engage the public throughout the project that will return the floodplain to a more neutral condition. The planning, design, and construction will take two to three years to complete.

 

For additional information, please contact Storm Water Services Director Dave Canaan at 704-336-3736 or mail.

 

NCACC Conference in New Bern, August 21-24

 

The North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) will celebrate 100 years of service to counties at its annual conference August 21-24, 2008. Craven County will host this year’s event. The conference includes a wide variety of workshops, a legislative update, election of officers, and appearances by gubernatorial candidates Beverly Perdue and Pat McCrory. More information about the conference can be found at www.ncacc.org. For more information, please contact Deborah Goldberg at 704-336-2611 or Deborah.Goldberg@mecklenburgcountync.gov.

 

 

 

Dr. Tom Blackwell Testifies Before Congressional Committee

 

Dr. Tom Blackwell will be testifying next Wednesday before the US House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security. As you know Dr. Blackwell not only serves as Medical Director for MEDIC, but also as medical director for pre-hospital medicine at Carolinas Medical Center. It is in this latter capacity that he has been invited to testify. Specifically, he will be talking about planning for mass gatherings and the development of the MED-1 unit. Carolinas MED-1 is a one-of-a-kind prototype mobile hospital.  For additional information, please contact Deborah Goldberg at (704) 336-2611 or email.

 

County Offices Closed

 

County offices will be closed on Friday, July 4, 2008 in observance of the Independence Day holiday. 
Have a safe and enjoyable holiday.

 

- Harry L. Jones, Sr., County Manager